rabbit diets

[Rowena]

I have a few questions for those that probably know more than I do.

When I had Chloe, my first dutch, I was on a different rabbit forum.Most of the people there didnt like the regular rabbit pellets, theypreferred plain alfalfa pellets. Now, I hear different lol

Now, I was looking at a bag of rabbit pellets at a feed store lastnight, that stated you didnt even have to feed hay, if you fed thosepellets.

So, I am wondering, how you could go about feeding plain alfalfapellets, and give your rabbit a complete diet? Chinny right now, hasplain alfalfa pellets, its what came with her. I am undecided on thetype of pellets I want to give her, and I need to shop around.

So, I am wondering, if in giving her a nice variety of fresh greens andveggies, plain alfalfa pellets, and grass hay when she is older, willbe good?

If not, could you recommend a good pellet. I am not sure if we havepurina around here. I know of Nutrena dealers, but no Purina ones.

This also ties in with my wondering about the salt and/or mineralblocks for them. Since the pellets have that kind of stuff in them, Iwould imagine one would be needed if a person wasnt feeding typicalrabbit pellets?

I was reading just a bit ago, on how you can feed a pellet less diet,but I wouldnt think that would work all too well. I mean, what happensif you ran out of veggies, ect?

So, would it be a healthy diet, to have a good variety of greens and veggies, plain alfalfa pellets and grass hay?

Virginia

 

[nohea]

I don't know about the masses, but I was toldthat alfalfa in any form is only for babies, adults should be on atimothy hay pellet and loose hay. I was also told that theyneed to have loose hay (good quality timothy) to make sure that theyget the roughage they need to clean their systems out.

We use and love oxbow pellets and their hay, sold at the feed store, very nice quality.

 

[sophiebun]

If your bunny is young under two, alfalfapellets are fine. If your bunny is over two you should switchto timothy pellets. The alfalfa has too muchcalciumin it for mature buns and it's fattening. When mybuns were five I switched them to a no pellet diet. Justveggies and loads of hay. Now that they are nearly nine, andhave health problems, I introduced timothy pellets back into theirdiet. That way when they are not eating I can mix water withthe pellets in a blender and feed via syringe. Theyeach have different health issues that cause them to go off foodoccasionally. If you do decide to swich your bunny's diet, doit gradually, and watch for signs of digestive trouble like mushy poopsor other changes in the litterbox.


http://www.carrotcafe.com/ this link has a ton of info on rabbit's diets

 

[Pet_Bunny]

I agree with Nohea.

Pebbles only gets 1/8 cup of pellets a day and unlimited TimothyHay. If they don't get hay, they needsome other source of fiber. Pumpkin is good.

Rainbows!

 

[Rowena]

Well, Chinny is still a baby. She's I believe,12 weeks old now, Ill have to count it out again lol She was on grasshay, and the food that the pet store uses and gives with the bunnies,was a mix of alfalfa pellets, rolled oats and dried apples.

Right now, Chinny gets unlimited alfalfa hay, her bowl filled withpellets, and a small amount of oats. I am slowly cutting those out tojust a minimum amount, and a mix of parsley, dandelion, broccoli andmint. I got some cilantro to add to this mix over the next couple ofdays. She has had a little bit of carrot, a small piece of cucumber,and of course some of the dried apples. So far, everything is agreeingwith her. I am very glad she is deciding the salad is a good thing.

Once we move, I think I will have a easier time finding differentpellets. Right now, all I have found are alfalfa based rabbit pellets.Once Chinny is a little older, her hay will be changed to the timothygrass hay. Once I find a good pellet, she will get those as well. I wasjust wondering if it was possible to stay away from the rabbit pellets,and just give some alfalfa pellets in their place. I wouldnt free feedher those, she would only get a small amount, then unlimited grass hayand a bunch of veggies. Just trying to see what would be more ideal,since I know the pellets contain vitamins, minerals, ect.

So I was just basically wondering if the alfalfa pellets would be fineeven when older, as long as in a limited amount, if she was gettingwhat she needed in other foods. If that makes sense. It doesnt reallymatter lol Just thinking She may end up on Mazuri pellets, if Idecide to feed those to my future chinchilla, since there is a feedstore where we are moving, that sells that. So I would just buy Chinnysfood when I bought the chins food.

Thanks!

Virginia